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White hake - Southern Grand Bank
Fact Sheet Title  Fact Sheet
Stocks management recommendations 2021
White hake - Southern Grand Bank
Fact Sheet Citation  
White hake in Div. 3NO
Owned byNorthwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) – ownership
ident Blockident Blockdisplay tree map
 
Species List:
Species Ref: en - White hake, fr - Merluche blanche, es - Locha blanca, ru - Налим нитеперый белый
ident Block White hake - Southern Grand Bank
Aq Res
Biological Stock: No         Value: Regional
Management unit: Yes        Reference year: 2020
 
 
Aq Res State Trend
Aq Res State Trend
Aq Res State Trend Aq Res State Trend
Aq Res State TrendNone- low Fishing MortalityNo or low fishing mortalityGreen
Aq Res State TrendSmall Stock SizeLow abundance

The assessment is considered data limited and is associated with a relatively high uncertainty. Biomass of this stock increased in 1999 and 2000, generated by the large recruitment observed in those years. Subsequently, the biomass index decreased and has since remained variable but lower. No large recruitments have been observed since 2000, however the 2019 index is the highest in two decades. Fishing mortality is low.
Habitat Bio
Climatic Zone: Temperate.   Bottom Type: Unspecified.   Depth Zone: Slope - Deepslope (500 m - 1000 m).   Horizontal Dist: Neritic.   Vertical Dist: Demersal/Benthic.  

Geo Dist
Geo Dist: Straddling between High Seas and EEZ

Water Area Overview
Spatial Scale: Regional

Water Area Overview
Aq Res Struct
Biological Stock: No
Exploit
 

White hake is caught in directed gillnet, trawl and long-line fisheries. In directed white hake fisheries, Atlantic cod, black dogfish, monkfish and other species are landed as bycatch. In turn, white hake are also caught as bycatch in gillnet, trawl and long-line fisheries directing for other species. The fishery in NAFO division 3NO, and subdivision 3Ps, are regulated by quotas.

Recent catch estimates and TACs (‘000 t) are:

Effects of the fishery on the ecosystem

No specific information is available. General impacts of fishing gears on the ecosystem should be considered.
Bio Assess
 
Results
Ref Point
 

Not defined.
Assess Models
Analytical assessment
Results

Based upon a qualitative evaluation of stock biomass trends and recruitment indices. The assessment is considered data limited and as such associated with a relatively high uncertainty. Input data are research survey indices and fishery data (STACFIS 2021).

The next full assessment of this stock will be in 2023.



Fishing Mortality

Recruitment

Biomass

Human impact

Mainly fishery related mortality has been documented. Mortality from other human sources (e.g. pollution, shipping, oil-industry) are undocumented.

Biological and environmental interactions

On the Grand Bank, white hake are near the northern limit of their range, concentrating along the southwest slope of the Grand Bank at temperatures above 5°C. The major spawning area is located on the shelf-edge on the Grand Bank. Weaker ocean currents on the continental slope during the spawning period are hypothesized to reduce potential losses of eggs and larvae due to entrainment in the Labrador Current and increase recruitment potential.

White hake feed mostly on crustaceans and fish. Larger individuals are reported to be cannibalistic and to feed upon eggs and juveniles. In nearshore areas, white hake are also thought to predate on smaller juvenile cod. Predators of white hake include Atlantic cod, other fish species, Atlantic puffins, Arctic terns, other seabirds and seals.

This stock straddles the 3Ps and 3LNO Ecosystem Production Units (EPU), which have been experiencing low productivity conditions in recent years, including biomass declines across multiple trophic levels and stocks in 3LNO since 2014.
Management
Management unit: Yes

Advice

Recommendation for 2022-2023

Given the absence of strong recruitment, catches of white hake in 3NO should not increase. Average annual total catches of the most recent five years were around 400 tonnes.
Objectives

No explicit management plan or management objectives defined by Fisheries Commission. General Convention Principles (NAFO/GC Doc 08/3) are applied. Advice is based on survey indices and catch trends in relation to estimates of recruitment.

Stock definition for management purposes

The management unit is confined to NAFO Div. 3NO, which is a portion of the stock that is distributed in NAFO Div. 3NO and Subdivision 3Ps.
Sources
 
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Scientific Council Documents SCR Doc.20/010, 21/004, 21/022 and SCS Doc. 21/05, 21/06, 21/08, 21/09. Click to openhttps://www.nafo.int/Library/Science/SC-Documents
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO). 2021. Report of the Scientific Council Meeting, 27 May -11 June 2021. NAFO SCS Doc. 21/14Rev. Click to openhttps://www.nafo.int/Portals/0/PDFs/sc/2021/scs21-14REV.pdf
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO). 2008. Resolution on the Interpretation and Implementation of the Convention on the Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries. 30th Annual Meeting – September 2008. NAFO/GC Doc. 08/3. Click to openhttp://archive.nafo.int/open/gc/2008/gcdoc08-03.pdf
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